Olympia High athletic director Russell Wambles retires

Olympia High’s athletic director Russell Wambles won’t return to the school for the spring semester. His retirement was announced Wednesday, Jan. 7 after working as a Titan for almost four years. 

The Titans’ football head coach Travis Gabriel will step in as the new athletic director, Wambles said. 

Prior to working at Olympia, Wambles worked in athletic administration for 25 years. The Apopka High School alumni also worked at other Florida schools including Apopka, Dr. Phillips and Tavares High School. He was recognized as the state athletic director of the year in 2015-26 by the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Administrators. 

Wambles also coached at schools in Arkansas and Georgia before returning home to Florida. Over the years, the school under his guidance won state all-sport awards for top overall athlete program and other accomplishments.  Outside of athletic admini